Jason Statham

 Jason Statham was born in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, to Eileen (Yates), a dancer as well as Barry Statham, a street merchant and lounge singer. Statham was a diver for the British National Diving Team, and finished 12th in the 1992 World Championships. He also worked as an fashion model, black market salesman and, lastly an actor. He received the audition for his first part as Bacon in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) through French Connection, for whom the role he played was modelled. They were a major investor in the movie and introduced Jason to Guy Ritchie, who invited him to audition for a role in the film by asking him to play an unlicensed street vendor and convincing him to purchase fake jewelry. Jason must have been doing something right since following the success of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) Jason joined forces with Guy Ritchie for Snatch (2000) and co-stars included Brad Pitt, Dennis Farina and Benicio del Toro. Turn It Up (2000) was the next film he acted in with US artist Ja Rule. He also played as a support part in Ghosts of Mars (2001), Jet Li’s The One (2001), as well as a screen-to-screen partnership with Vinnie Jones (2001) under Guy Ritchie and Matthew Vaughn’s SKA Films. In 2002, he was cast in the role of Frank Martin in The Transporter. Jason was also featured in the blockbuster summer remake The Italian Job (1969), The Italian Job (2003), playing Handsome Rob.